Suppository-making machine



March 1941- c. J. WESTIN 2,235,345

SUPPOSITORY-MAKING MACHINE Filed May 2, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l I 1 IN VEN TOR.

MMQ

A TTORNE Y.

March 18, 1941. 6:. J. WESTIN SUIPPOSITORY-MAKING MACHINE Filed ma 2, 195a SSheets SheetZ INVENTOR. M u) M. W a.s%'

F4 10. F yfi A TTORNE Y.

March-l8, 1941.

cfJ. WESTlN. 2,235,345

SUPPOSITORY-MAKING MACHINE Filed May 2, 193a Sheets-Sheet 5 1&1 F 9 132 v I: F4 19 F920.

1 M INVENTOR. D h a F1 14 By x ii 61 W S i I 142 ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 18, 1941 SUPPOSITORY-MAKING MACHINE Charles J. Westin, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to F. J. Stokes Machine Company, Philadelphia, (Olney Post Ofiice), Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 2, 1938, Serial No. 205,485

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in machinery used for the manufacture of encased suppositories; and, more particularly, to the machinery and methods used in efficiently and sanitarily producing self-contained suppositories.

Suppositories are solid bodies intended for insertion into various openings or passages of the body to produce medicinal action. The consistency and shape varies with the intended use. Usually the medicated suppository mass is formed into the desired shape either by pressing the cold mass into dies or by pouring the hot or warm mass into suitable molds and allowing it to cool. The pressed or molded suppository bodies then are individually wrapped in paper or tin foil or some other protective covering. Most supposi tories have a very low melting point and are therefore quite soft unless chilled by some refrigeration and they therefore must be handled very carefully when being wrapped to prevent distortion. The wrapping is a very expensive item and has many disadvantages, as the wrapper can hardly be expected to furnish much support in maintaining the proper shape but rather serves only as a protection against contamination. The ideal, therefore, is theself-contained suppository in which the wrapper is used as a means for forming the suppository into the desired shape, retaining within its protective casing the original sanitary mass as the unit is cooled or chilled.

This invention includes such novel and useful features as the combination of means for supporting, conveying, measuring the desired quantity of the mass, filling this into the casing, closin and forming the casing with the contained plastic mass into the desired shape. Other features are: the novel construction of the casing or capsule holders; the method and means used for forming the casing and the contained mass, etc.

The machine here shown and described is one of the general type of machines suitable for supporting and conveying the capsule casings,'measuring out a definite quantity of the suppository mass, placing this quantity in the casing, closing the casing and forming it into the shape desired, and then sealing the closure of the so formed capsule to protect the content and retain the shape. The principles embodied in my invention can be used to advantage in any machine of similar construction.

The purpose of my invention is to provide simple and efiicient means for the manufacture of self-contained or clad suppositories of various suitable standard shapes and sizes. The covering may be in the form of a capsule, having a cylindrical body with a solid bottom extruded from such metals as tin, aluminum, etc. These metals are ductile and can readily be formed into the desired shape of the suppository but are stiff 5 enough to retain their shape and thus form individual molds which mold the confined liquid or plastic suppository mass into the final shape as the mass sets or hardens. Other material than metal may, of course, be used for the capsule as 0' long as the material is aseptic and will remain neutral to the contained material. Any such material or combination of material, possessing the desired rigidity of the casing could be efficiently handled in my device. 15

For a further explanation of my invention, reference may be had to the annexed specification and drawings at the end of which my invention will be specifically pointed out and claimed.

Inthe drawings: I r

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine, chosen for the purpose of illustrating the principles of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a detailed view in horizontalcrcsssection on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detailed right-hand view of some of the driving mechanism and clutch parts.

Fig. 3A is a detailed view at right angles to Fig. 3 of the lever shown in Fig. 3.

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are detailed views of the 30 rectal suppository forming means.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the capsule holder for the rectal suppository.

Figs. 9 and 10 show the finished rectal suppository.

Figs. 11, 12 13 and 14 are detailed views showing the forming, closing and sealing means for the vaginal suppository.

Figs. 15, 15, 17 and 18 show the forming means for a vaginal suppository.

Figs. 19. 20 and 21 are detailed views showing the capsule holder for vaginal suppositories.

Figs. 22 and 23 show the finished vaginal suppository.

As seen in the drawings and especially in Fig. 1, my machine consists of a frame 23, mounted on base 48, supporting the forming and closing device 25, and sealing device 21, with their various mechanisms. A dial or conveying means 24 is also supported on frame 23.v Power for operating may be derived from any suitable source such as M and belted to pulley 69 which is fast to gear and thus transmits its rotary motion to gear 63, fast on cam shaft 64. A gear 65, mounted on camshaft 64, turns gear 68 on which are 58 formed necessary parts to impart a quarter-01 a-turn to Geneva star II for each revolution of gear 63. The Geneva star 'II is fast to shaft Iii which imparts an intermittent motion to the dial 24 in timed. relation to the rest of the mechanism through the bevel gears I3.

Dial I2 has, as is best seen in Fig. 2, a plurality of openings 75 into which the interchangeable capsule holder 6| may be placed and kept from turning out of their proper alignment by means of the key I44, shown in Fig. 20*, fitting slidably into the slot 12a, associated with open ing 75. As can best be seen in Figs. 11, 12, 13

and 14, it is very important, and as a matter of fact necessary, that the capsule holder 61 is kept in proper alignment because the prongs of formers 48 and 59, as best seen in Figs. 16 and 1'7, must straddle the capsule support I45 shown on capsule holder (Fig. 20).

On the closing and forming device 26 is also mounted the measuring and filling device 25. In this case, the measuring device consists of a piston pump I8 of the usual. construction and arranged so that, with each stroke of the piston, a charge of desired volume is drawn from hopper 43 through the three-way valve 59 into the pump cylinder; and, at the proper time in the cycle of operation with the valve turned tov the discharge position by means of lever 83 and linkage 82- actuated by cam 8I,the piston will discharge the measured quantity of suppository mass into the capsule placed in alignment with nozzle 46 by the conveyor 24. The pump is operated by an adjustable cross-head I3, mounted on disc 80 which is attached eccentrically to the cam SI and rotated in timed relation with the other mechanism through the shaft 81 and gear 62. Gear 62 of course receives its motion from gear I55 on the cam-shaft 64. As it is not always possible for an operator to keep the conveyor filled with capsules, a clutch is provided on shaft 81 so that the operator can engage or disengage the measuring and filling device 25, and thereby avoid spilling and wasting a charge if no capsule is in place under nozzle 45 This clutch consists of a pawl 85 (Fig. 3) carried by a pawl-arm 86, attached to shaft 8-1 and by means of the foot treadle 42 connected by a link 4| to the trip lever 89, which is fulcrumed-on a bracket 90 attached to frame 26 and provided with a trip-pin 88', so arranged that, when the operator steps on the treadle, the trip-pin 8 8 is; pulled out of the way, permitting pawl 85 to engage with the cam face on ring 84, fastened to gear 62. The so engaged gear 62 and shaft 81 turn as a unit to operate the measuring and filling device. If the operator removes the foot from the treadle, the pin 88 drops into the path of pawl 85, thus disengaging the pawl from the cam face on ring 84, and the measuring and filling unit stops in a position ready to immediately discharge a measured quantity the moment the operator again engages pawl 85. Provision is made to vary the volume of measured quantity by the usual adjustments consisting of the means for sliding cross-head I9 farther or closer to the center of shaft 81; thus, byincreasing the stroke of the piston, a larger charge will be measured off and finally delivered to the capsule.

For the closingand forming of a vaginal suppository shown in Figs. 22 and 23, a capsule holder of the unique construction shown in Figs. 1-9, 2 0 and 21 must beused. The holder must of necessity properly support the, capsule in a vertical position with the open end up and without permitting any play between the capsule and the holder which might cause misalignment in forming the suppository to the desired shape. It will be noted that the holder consists of a cylindrical body I M, having a shoulder I43 of suitable size to rest on top of dial I2, While the lower portion of the body is of the proper diameter to fit into the opening I of the dial. On this lower portion of the body, a key having faces I42 and I44 is provided which slidably engages slot 12a of the dial. In the upper end of the body is a recess I39 formed of a diameter to suit the capsule handled. At the bottom of the recess, a shoulder I 42 and I49 is provided for the capsule to rest. on, while a portion of the cylindrical body is cut away on each side so as to leave prongs I46 extending up for the support of the capsule sidewise. The side of the body is not cut away all the way down to the shoulder I40 and I49 but a suitable portion I38 is left and this portion beveled out at I48 to help in forming the large portion of the suppository as shown at I58 (Fig. 22). The height I38and bevel I48 are carefully worked out. to suit the size of capsule being formed and the shape desired for the finished article. Wrinkles and creases in the capsule would seriously effect the shape of the suppository and of course detract. from the appearauce of the finished covered-suppository. The prongs I46 are provided with tapered sides I45 to suit the taper or slope I30 and I36 of the forming jaws (Figs. 16 and 17) and the slope I51 (Fig. 22) of the finish-formed suppository. Through the center of the body of the capsule holder an opening I 50 is provided so that, if automatic ejection is desired, the capsule or rather the finished covered-suppository may be lifted out of the conveying means 24 by means of an ejector rod (not shown).

The closing and forming jaw inserts are made of suitable shape for the particular type of suppository desired. These inserts 48 and 59 (Fig. 11) are made interchangeable and therefore detachably attached to. the closing and forming jaws 41 and 51 by means of screws extending into the angles I2I and I32 (Figs. -18). The closing-forming insert 48 (Figs. 15 and 16) has a plate body I2! with the angle I2I at the top for attaching to the jaws and another angle I28 and I29 at the bottom but on the opposite side from I2I. The insert 59(Figs. 1'7 and 18) is of the same construction. In the center of plate I26 is cut-out a form I30 to suit the shape of suppository desired but without angle I28. The angles or guides I28 and I 29 are also cut at I 3I but on parallel vertical lines to line up with the maximum width of shape I 39. These faces I 3I engage on opposite sides the body of the capsule holder I 4| at a point I 4| b so as to insure perfect alignment and the symmetrical forming of wings I56 (Fig. 22) of the covered-suppository. As will be best seen in Figs. 17 and 18, the forming edge I36 may extend above the bottom surface of angle I32 so as to form additional room up to I23 on a bevel like at I33. When making the fold as shown in Fig. 12, the capsules sometimes have a tendency to hang up on the top face of jaw 41 and be pulled along with this jaw as it opens to permit folder shoe 56 to form the 45 angle of the first fold as shown in Fig. 13. To avoid the spoiling of a capsule by such an accident, a spring I22 (Figs. 15 and 16) is provided which has a tendency to urge the capsule away from this side of the closing and forming mechanism when the jaw 4! retracts. This spring may be shaped in any suitable manner as shown on the drawings in Figs. 15 and 16 so that loop I22 will be pressed back into the recess below I23 while the capsule is being formed as shown in Fig. 12 or the fold finished as shown in Fig. 14. Spring I22 may of course be attached in any suitable manner as indicated, for example by an extending arm I24 attached by a screw to the insert at I25.

The capsule A after receiving its measured charge, is delivered by the conveying means 24 between the closing and forming jaws 41 and 51 as shown in Fig. 11. As the jaws close in to form the capsule, the guide faces I3I of the angles I28 and I29 engage the capsule holder at MI!) and positively center the capsule in the recess I30 of the insert. The capsule, with its contained liquid or plastic suppository mass, is shaped to the outline shown in Figs. 22 and 23 by the combined action between formers 46 and 59 with the holder 6I. Part of the capsule is pressed by the shapes I30 and I36 into the upper frustum having the sides I51 and a top slightly beveled from I53 to I55. The excess material in the capsule-wall is flattened as at I56 into wings extending out from each side of the upper frustum, while the lower frustum takes the shape I58-I59 with a slightly curved top as at I60. A common base for the two frustums is assumed to lie along an imaginary plane located at the point I58 where the wings terminate. The contained suppository mass is forced into the shape of the cavity thus formed, any excess of mass being squeezed out at the top where the fold is made. When the suppository mass cools or is chilled, it sets into the shape of the mold thus formed :by the capsule. The walls of the capsule are stilt enough to provide ample protection for the capsule mass and permit the ready handling of the clad-supository even be fore the mass has had time to set or harden. With the closing of the jaws, the folder shoe 56 slides forward over the portion extending above the faces of the jaws and bends the capsule first at a 90 angle as in Fig. 12 and then with jaw 41 retracted into the angle shown in Fig. 13. From this point the folder shoe 56 retracts and the closing jaw 41 advances to make the final bend of the single fold shown in Fig. 14. Should a double-fold be desired, the operation just recited for the formation of a single fold would be repeated but in that case, of course, the capsule holder would have to be lifted a certain distance to provide the necessary stock required for a second fold.

From the closing and forming station the suppository maybe ejected as a finished article but, if it is desired to strengthen the closure by means of crimping as well as to ornament the folds, the formed capsule may be carried by the conveying means 24 around to the crimping station 21, where crimps or indentations may be made in the fold and/or code numbers or identifying marks pressed into the fold as indicated in Fig. 22 at II. The uncrimped single fold is shown at I52.

The above-described forming-mechanism would produce or does produce a vaginal suppository of the general shape of a double-frustum with the bases of the frustum placed against each other. It. would at least have such an appearance when viewed from the side shown in Fig. 22 while, when viewed from the edge as shown in Fig. 23, it appears in the shape of a wedge. The closest description, however, ex-

pressed in-theflbriefest term possible would no doubt be a double ended frustum. To obtain a perfectly formed Vaginal suppository, the capsule would be filled with a charge of the requir'ed volume of suppository mass. may even be slightly in excess of the required volume so that a small portion will be squeezed out into the wing I56 and up through the fold I52 to insure a perfectly homogeneous and dense suppository. Too much excess material, however, is detrimental because it interferes seriously with the neat forming of the fold in the closure and the measuring device, therefore, must be accurate in its function.

Many varying shapes and forms may, of course, be obtained by slight modifications in the means described for the forming of covered vaginal suppositories. In some cases, for example, it may be desired to eliminate most of or all of the space between the bottom I59 and the expanded portion at I58. In such a case, the bottom I60 would, of course, take a more pronounced curvature than shown in Fig. 23 and the capsule holder as well as the forming jaw inserts would of necessity be modified to suit the requirements.

A rectal type of suppository is shown in Figs. 9 and 10. This type has a straight body portion extending down from the bullet-shaped tops H2 and I I6. For this type of suppository a modified form of capsule holder must be provided as the straight body part H4 of the capsule must be supported all the way up to the point where the forming takes place. The closing and forming aw inserts are of the same general construction having the angles BI and 0! for attaching to the jaws and the guides93 and 04 on the opposite side but at. the bottom of insert 46. To form the bullet-shape. the plate 92 would be cut to a shape indicated at 06 or I00 with a point or apex at 95 or 09. The guide spaces I0! are cut back to suit the body of the capsule holder while the base I02 of the formingportion of the insert should be of the same diameter as the body I I4 of the capsule. In Fig. 8 a capsule holder is shown with a capsule E in place. The conveying means are ,so adjusted that the top face I03 of the capsule holder just allows sufiicient clearance for the creases I I8 and I20 between the face I03 and the points I02 of the insert. It is desirable to have the walls of the capsule forming these creases I20 and H0 pressed as closely together as possible in order to keep out as much as possible of the suppository mass from between these walls. What was said in regard to the vaginal capsule filling and forming also holds true in this case. It is desirable to have very accurate filling so that only a small portion of excess suppository mass is needed in order to produce a dense suppository, without having excess material squeeze into the space between the walls of the capsule forming the wings H! or II9 as well as into the fold H0. The bullet-shape indicated by the lines I52, H6 and I I! may be modified to the frustum-shape by using suitable shaped forming jaw inserts. The frustum-shape is easier to make because the creasing at H8 and I20 is omitted and is there fore also considerably easier on the metal in the capsule wall. a

I do not limit myself to the two specific shapes shown in the drawings. They are only representative of the two more popular shapes but may be modified as referred to above to suit varying needs and conditions.

I do not intend to be limited save as the scope The chargeofthe prior art and of the attached claims may require.

I claim:

1. In a machine for forming and encasing an object, the combination comprising, means for conveying a plurality of filled casings each containing a plastic mass, a pair of closing and forming jaws mounted adjacent said means so as to operate on each of the casings on said means in succession, said jaws having oppositely disposed openings therein adapted to receive portions of said casings in said openings, portions of one of said jaws projecting therefrom so as to pass beyond the operating face of the other of said jaws when said jaws are in their closest position, and means for moving said jaws towards and away from each other.

2. In a machine for forming and encasing an object, the combination comprising, means for conveying a plurality of ductile casings each containing a plastic mass, a pair of closing and forming jaws mounted adjacent said means for operation on a casing and on the plastic mass therein, said jaws having fiat operative faces disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of said casing and each having an opening in its operating face adapted to receive a portion of the casing therein, at least a portion of the edge of the opening being formed at right angles to said operating face, one of said jaws having thereon projecting portions spaced from each other a greater distance than the adjacent dimension of said opening, said projecting portions being arranged to pass the operating face of the opposite jaw when said jaws are in their closest position, and means for moving said jaws toward and away from each other.

3. In a machine for forming and encasing an object, the combination comprising, means for conveying a succession of casings each containing a plastic mass, holders mounted on said means and each adapted to support a casing on said means, closing and forming jaws mounted adjacent said means for successive operation on each of the casings carried by said means, said jaws having in their opposite portions openings arranged to receive portions of a casing therein, and one of said jaws having projections thereon arranged to engage each of said holders in succession and to thereby center the casing carried by said holder with relation to said jaws, and means for moving said jaws toward and away from each other.

4. In a machine for forming and encasing an object, the combination comprising, movable means for conveying a succession of hollow casings each containing a plastic mass to be formed and encased, holders each having a recess therein for supporting one of said casings on said means, a pair of closing and forming jaws mounted adjacent said means so as to operate in succession on each of said casings, inserts mounted on each of said jaws and having openings therein opposite each other and arranged to receive portions of a casing in said openings, projections extending from one of said inserts toward said holders and arranged to engage each of said holders in succession and to thereby center the casing carried by said holder in the openings in said inserts, and means for moving said jaws toward and away from each other.

5. In a machine for forming and encasing an object, the combination comprising, means for conveying a plurality of capsules each containing a plastic mass, a plurality of holders mounted on said means and each having a recess therein for supporting a capsule, the upper edge of said recess having projecting prongs adjacent the capsule, a pair of closing and forming jaws each having a recess therein opposite the other and opposite said prongs so as to pass one of said prongs into each of said recesses and to engage the capsule carried by the holder, projections on one of said jaws arranged to engage said holder and to thereby center the capsule in respect to said jaws, and means for moving said jaws toward and away from each other.

6. In a machine for forming and encasing an object, the combination comprising, means for conveying a plurality of hollow casings each containing a plastic mass, a pair of closing and forming jaws mounted adjacent said means and arranged to operate in succession on each of the casings carried by said means, each of said jaws having a recess therein arranged opposite each other and adapted to engage and outline a portion of said casing, a spring mounted on one of said jaws and arranged to overlie a portion of the outline of one of said openings and to thereby disengage that portion of the casing opposite the opening at that point, and means for moving said jaws toward and away from each other.

7. In a machine for forming and encasing an object, the combination comprising, means for conveying a plurality of hollow capsules each containing an object, a pair of jaws mounted adjacent said means and arranged for movement toward and away from each other so as to compress successively each of said capsules carried by said means between said jaws, at least one of said jaws having an operative face having an opening therein arranged to receive a portion of the capsule in said opening, a portion of the wall forming said opening being arranged at a bevel with said operating face so as to be moved opposite a portion of said capsule.

8. An insert for the closing and forming jaw of a machine for forming and closing casings each containing an object, comprising, a flat plate having an opening extending through one edge thereof, a portion of the outline of said opening being arranged at an acute angle to the face of said plate and opposite that portion of said opening which is in the edge of said plate, and means for attaching said insert to a jaw.

9. An insert for the closing and forming jaw of a machine for forming and closing ductile casings each containing an object, comprising, a fiat plate having an opening extending through one edge thereof, a spring mounted on a nonoperating face of said plate and extending through and overlying the wall of a portion of said opening, and means for attaching said insert to a jaw.

10. A holder for a capsule for use in a machine for forming and closing a wrapper containing a mass of fluid material, comprising, a body having walls forming an open-ended recess therein arranged to receive a capsule in said recess, portions of the end of the walls of said recess adjacent said capsule forming projecting prongs overlying portions of said capsule, the walls of said recess intermediate said prongs being beveled so as to provide sharp edges and to provide pockets at a lower level than the edges of said walls intermediate said prongs, and means for supporting and locating said holder on and relative to a conveyor.

11. In a machine for holding a mass of fluid material within a semi-rigid casing which supports and encloses it, the combination of, a. holder having a recess therein suitable for receiving a casing in said recess, the edge of said recess having projecting prongs lying against a portion of said casing, and a pair of movable closing and forming jaws arranged to contact with said casing and to thereby form said casing and the material therein, said jaws each having a recess therein arranged to receive one of said prongs in said recess when said jaws contact with said casing.

12. In a machine for molding a mass of fluid material within a semi-rigid casing which supports and encloses it, the combination of, a holder having a recess therein arranged to receive a filled casing in said recess, a pair of closing and forming jaws mounted for movement into and out of contact with said casing to thereby form said casing and the material therein, said jaws having openings therein arranged to receive por tions of said casing in said openings, and projections on one of said jaws arranged for contact with said holder upon movement of said jaw towards said casing so that said projections center said casing in said opening.

CHARLES J. WESTIN. 

